Conference motions

Conference notes the Prime Minister’s announcement on 28th September that the government plans to introduce an option for some couples who have married or who have registered civil partnerships to transfer £1,000 of their personal tax allowance from one partner or spouse to the other. This proposal affects UNISON members in all membership categories. As […]

Conference notes that: 1. The economic recession that began in 2008 has had profound effects upon the labour market leading to growing inequality and a growing distinction between “core” and “peripheral” workers. Among the worst affected are young workers and workers already subject to prejudice and discrimination on grounds including disability, gender, gender identity, race, […]

Conference notes that the Global Commission on HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and the Law’s 2012 landmark report “HIV and the Law: Risks, Rights & Health” presented compelling evidence that laws that protect human rights strengthen AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) responses. Its recommendations relating to the most-at-risk populations in terms of HIV, including men who have […]

Conference notes the 2011 report ‘Insight into ill-treatment in the workplace’ funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and supported by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service and Equality and Human Rights Commission. This reported that just under half the British workforce had experienced unreasonable treatment at work over a two year period. It […]

Conference notes that hate crime continues to blight the lives of too many people, affecting them at work, in their homes and as they go about their lives. Conference acknowledges the work done by UNISON, by individual activists and by our community groups to highlight the extent and effect of hate crime, the limitations of […]

Conference notes that there has been significant progress towards equality in marriage and civil partnership but the job is by no means done. Conference welcomes: 1. The concessions and pledges achieved during the passage of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act for England and Wales, including on the reviews of civil partnership and surviving partner […]

Conference notes that there have been many anecdotal reports of the disproportionate impact of the government’s austerity measures on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people but a lack of hard evidence to date. Conference therefore welcomes the support of UNISON’s General Political Fund (GPF) in funding the national LGBT group to commission research in […]

Conference notes with concern the rise in bullying and harassment in the workplace as a predictable consequence of cuts to public services. Increasing budgetary pressures lead to top down pressure on managers to achieve greater output from an increasingly over-stretched workforce. Bullying and harassment of staff follows all too often. The Trades Union Congress (TUC) […]

Conference notes that in 2008, ILGA-Europe (The European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Association) and the European Network Against Racism (ENAR) proposed a Horizontal Directive, banning discrimination in goods and services on grounds of age, disability, religion/belief and sexual orientation. One of the many benefits of a single legislative approach […]

Conference notes that UNISON has always been cautious about monitoring sexual orientation and gender identity, particularly in our workplaces. It is understandable that some individuals still consider their sexual orientation and gender identity to be ‘private’ for monitoring purposes and have concerns about possible discrimination if they declare their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender […]

Conference recognises that UNISON has many retired members, and these numbers are growing year on year. Conference believes that retired members bring huge value to self organisation: strengthening our voice and campaigns and retaining the experience of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) members when they retire. Further, retired members gain from their continued involvement […]

Conference congratulates regional and branch lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) groups and the caucuses on the work they have done to recruit new members into UNISON. We all welcome UNISON’s major recruitment drive to strengthen our union, to enable us to better defend our members and to campaign even more effectively. Conference believes national […]

Conference notes that the hazardous and harmful use of alcohol and drugs is an issue for our diverse lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, which impacts on our working lives. ‘Part of the Picture’ – a five year research project (2009-2014) by the Lesbian and Gay Foundation and University of Central Lancashire – has […]

Conference notes the continuing high levels of biphobia at work and in society. Research published in May 2013, which many UNISON members participated in, showed that bisexual people experience even higher levels of discrimination at work than gay men. Bisexual people are much more likely to feel they have to hide their sexual orientation at […]

Conference celebrates the passing into law of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 as being yet another landmark on the road to full equality for the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community. However, Conference recognises that there are three items of unfinished business contained in the Act. Section 15 has instituted a review […]